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7 features I want next from Google Wallet after the Apple-inspired refresh
Instead of redesigning things that already worked, how about one of these changes instead?
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Joe Maring / Android Authority
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We’ve recently seen several changes to Google Messages, with more rumored features on the way. That’s far from the only Google app getting some love right now, though. Google Wallet not only got a significant stacked-card redesign recently, but rumors also suggest a few other changes are coming, including receipt scanning and the possibility of agentic features.
While it’s exciting to see new features in Google Wallet, Google still has plenty of ways it could improve the experience. With that in mind, here are five changes I feel would benefit Google Wallet.
Which of these features would you like to see come to Google Wallet?
An updated card stack design that makes it easier to tell cards apart
As mentioned before, Google recently redid its stacked card layout. Instead of the older horizontal scrolling method, the app has been rolling out a new vertically stacked layout that seems to be mostly a change for change’s sake. The real problem is that the new layout makes it much harder to tell which card you are actually using.
Previously, it was easy to tell apart your cards as there was an alias underneath each card with more details. This was ideal in situations where you have two cards from the same bank or creditor, as they can look identical at a glance. While I personally was more than happy with the original horizontal layout, the new method wouldn’t be bad if there was a more glanceable way to tell cards apart for those who have more than one card from the same creditor or bank. A simple fix would be to add a glanceable alias or even a partially blurred card number to the credit card images in the app.
Manual card nicknames for loyalty cards and payment cards
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Speaking of aliases, I’d love to see a way to add custom nicknames for both payment cards and loyalty cards. Maybe you want to label the card that you use for your family’s joint account, or just want a simple way to tell similar cards apart without being at the mercy of an automatic labeling system. It would be even better if this were paired with more advanced custom organization options.
Custom organization for cards and other stored info
Jerry Hildenbrand / Android Authority
Being able to add labels would be a step in the right direction, but I’d also love to see deeper organizational options in Google Wallet. I get that the wallet is designed to be as fast to use as possible at a glance, with cards all easily accessible in one spot, like a real wallet. Still, there are ways to accomplish both things.
I don’t want Google to get rid of its main page, but imagine if they added a quick category section that would open a new window. Here you’d be able to pick from work, daily use, and other custom labels. I can see many uses for this, including keeping your work’s business card separate so you don’t end up accidentally using it for personal reasons.
Archiving stored data without deleting it
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Old Google Wallet UI (left) and the new Google Wallet UI.
Right now, the only way to get rid of old tickets, credit cards, or membership cards is to delete them. For that reason, I tend to have a bunch of expired cards and coupons that are just cluttering up my virtual wallet. The easy solution here is to introduce an archive feature.
You might wonder why you’d want to archive versus delete, but I can think of a few reasons. For example, there was a time when I canceled my gym membership for a few months as I was healing from an injury, but left the card in my wallet. When I renewed service, the same card number was reactivated, so deleting it would have been an unnecessary move. Another possible reason is for those who just want to keep track of old card numbers, memberships, and tickets for tracking reasons or even nostalgia in some cases.
Location-based pairings
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
I absolutely love location-based reminders. This got me thinking: what if Google Wallet did something similar? Imagine walking into Sam’s Club. You reach out to grab your phone, and your Sam’s Club membership card is now at the top of the pile in Wallet, or maybe there’s even a handy widget that lets you go right to it. The same could apply to store credit cards. While it’s fairly fast to switch cards, this would still be a small yet nice little upgrade.
This one has some privacy implications that might make it harder, but if it had the ability to track what credit cards or loyalty cards you use at certain stores, it might even be able to go further and predict what card you need. For example, I use our joint account card for groceries, but if it’s a restaurant, I tend to use a different method of payment.
Universal smart home key support
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
You can already add digital keys for certain hotels and even a few rare car brands, so why not go a step further? Imagine if Google expanded this feature to include digital locks designed for home use from brands like Yale and Schlage. Right now, most of these types of locks use a special app or other similar method, but having it all under Google Wallet would greatly simplify the experience.
Family sharing
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Last but not least, a family sharing method would be great. Maybe you have a digital coupon or a family membership card you want to share, or maybe there’s an emergency, and you want to temporarily give your teen or another trusted person limited access. For a feature like this to work, you’d probably need the ability to set clear usage limits.
Likewise, you’d need a way to quickly revoke cards, coupons, tickets, and more. Still, if Google could find a way to pull this off securely, I know it would be something my family would use.
The above are a few possible changes I’d love to see come to Google Wallet. Thought of anything good you’d like to see that I didn’t mention? Tell us about it in the comments.
